Dual X-ray absorptiometry of hip, heel ultrasound, and densitometry of fingers can discriminate male patients with hip fracture from control subjects: a comparison of four different methods.

Few studies have examined different bone densitometry techniques to determine male hip fracture risk. We conducted a case-control study of 31 noninstitutionalized men, mean age 77 yr, with a first hip fracture and compared the results with 68 randomly selected age-matched control subjects. The methods used were dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the proximal femur, quantitative ultrasound (QUS) of the heel and fingers, and radiographic absorptiometry of the fingers. Case patients had significantly lower values (4-17%; p < 0.01) for all methods. The odds ratios for every SD reduction in bone values were 4.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.3-9.9) for DXA of the femoral neck, 2.2 (95% CI: 1.2-3.9) for QUS of the heel, 2.0 (95% CI: 1.2-3.3) for QUS of the phalanges, and 3.1 (95% CI: 1.5-6.6) for radiographic absorptiometry of the phalanges. The results indicate a strong capability of DXA of the femoral neck to distinguish between men with a first hip fracture and control subjects. Furthermore, ultrasound of the heel and fingers as well as radiographic absorptiometry proved capable of discriminating men with hip fractures from control subjects.